The Carolina Panthers aren’t making the playoffs this year. Any lingering doubt about that was dispelled with Sunday’s loss to the lowly Washington Redskins. If you don’t believe your eyes, the math should do.

According to FiveThirtyEight, Carolina’s postseason chances are now less than 1%. Minnesota is the team to watch, now. One more win or a tie for them plus a Carolina loss or tie would officially eliminate the Panthers from the race.

Here’s how the NFC playoff picture is shaping up with four games left to play.

Playoff teams

1. New Orleans Saints (10-2)
2. Seattle Seahawks (10-2)
3. Green Bay Packers (9-3)
4. Dallas Cowboys (6-6)
5. San Francisco 49ers (10-2)
6. Minnesota Vikings (8-4)

In the hunt

7. Los Angeles Rams (7-5)
8. Chicago Bears (6-6)
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7)
10. Philadelphia Eagles (5-7)
11. Carolina Panthers (5-7)

Seattle is the big riser, moving up from the No. 5 seed to the No. 2 seed courtesy of its win over Minnesota and a tie-breaker over San Francisco. This was the Seahawks’ sixth win of the season by seven points or less. History says they’re overdue for a dropoff but for now they keep defying gravity. They visit the Panthers in two weeks.

Elsewhere, Dallas is still in danger of losing that No. 4 seed, which at the moment is the equivalent of a buzz-saw. If they hold their position, the 49ers may go down as the toughest fifth seed in the history of the NFL playoffs. Neither the Cowboys nor the Eagles want that particular smoke.

The Vikings made it interesting but couldn’t break Kirk Cousins’ winless streak in Monday night games. They’re in danger of ceding the No. 6 seed to the Rams.

[lawrence-related id=615004]

[vertical-gallery id=614958]